Hiran Abesekera plays a lead role in The Father and the Assassin

Olivier award-winning actor Hiran Abeysekera returns to the London stage in the National Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of The Father and the Assassin. Abeysekera plays he lead role of Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. The play written by Anupama Chandrasekhar one of India’s exciting playwrights is directed by British Sri Lankan Indhu Rubasingham the Artistic-Director of the Kiln Theatre.
Rubasingham was recently featured in the British Vogue magazine as one of ‘The Vogue 25: Discover the Powerhouse Women who are defining and re-defining – Britain in 2023.’

The play centres on the story of Nathuram Godse who was a journalist, nationalist and the man who murdered Gandhi. The Father and the Assassin traces Godse’s life over 30 years during India’s fight for independence from being a devout follower of Gandhi through to his radicalisation and their tragic final encounter in Delhi in 1948. Political assassinations have left a lasting mark on our lives from John Kennedy and Martin Luther King to our very own SWRD Bandaranayake. These assassinations were seen as acts to create disharmony and destabilise with a mission to change the course of history.

Social media was abuzz with the trailer where Abeysekera delivers a powerful and captivating soliloquy. His gripping performance in the video enticed me to book a ticket. Luckily I managed to bag the last ticket for last Saturday’s performance and it was an absolute delight to watch Abeysekera in action. The play highlights the complicated childhood of Godse where he was forced to dress like a girl in order to appease a deity. Abeysekera plays this role most convincingly clad in a long lengha type outfit and a clip on plait. It then moves to a young Godse, a devout follower of Gandhi before moving to a phase where he is disillusioned and finally assassinates Gandhi. Abeysekera’s delivery of the opening line “Take a good look – you’ve paid good money to be here” sets the scene for a riveting performance till the very end. Abeysekera displays the same boundless energy he showed in The Life of Pi in this new role. At times strutting across the stage as the role demands, Abeysekera flits from his character as a young Godse to that of an older menacing nationalist Godse with aplomb.

His compelling performance in The Father and the Assassin is sure to earn him a legion of new fans. The Portuguese lady seated next to me who had visited Sri Lanka 20 years ago was in complete disbelief that Sri Lanka had such acting talent. Another Sri Lankan who shines in the play is Tony Jayawardene who plays the role of Hindu and anti muslim activist Vinayak Savarkar. The set and costumes perfectly complement each other and are sparse enough to give the actors the attention they deserve. Rubasingham, a seasoned and well respected Director has brought out the best in the entire cast who gel together to deliver a mesmerising performance which held the audience in thrall from start to finish.

Between Rubasingham, Abeysekera and Jayawardene they undeniably enrich the British theatre scene. The Father and the Assassin runs at the Oliver Theatre at the National Theatre on London’s Southbank till the 14th October 2023. 

Photos courtesy of The National Theatre, London.